Abstract: Three substantially parallel surfaces are selected in a 3-D data volume and values of a seismic attribute on each of the three surfaces are encoded onto a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) color scale. A single display of this encoded data makes it possible to get a visualization of and interpret subtle structural and stratigraphic features of the 3-D data volume. The displayed seismic attribute may be the amplitude or one of many commonly used attributes. The 3-D data volume may be defined in terms of seismic times or in terms of seismic depths.

Abstract: Combustion dispersed metal-metal oxide catalysts that are highly active for catalyzing the net partial oxidation of methane to CO and H2 are disclosed, along with their manner of making and processes for producing synthesis gas employing the new catalysts. A preferred catalyst comprises rhodium nanoparticles, with or without a rare earth promoter, that is deposited on &agr;-alumina by combusting a mixture of catalyst precursor materials and a flammable organic compound. In a preferred syngas production process a stream of reactant gas mixture containing methane and O2 is passed over the catalyst in a short contact time reactor to efficiently produce a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at superatmospheric pressures.

Abstract: A system for unloading fluids from a generally upright tubular member of a wellbore wherein a combustible fuel cell can be placed in the tubular member below the fluid and ignited to generate gasses. The gasses generated by the burning of the fuel cell can be used to force at least a portion of the fluid upward out of the tubular member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a hydrocarbon and oxygen containing gas feed stream to a product stream, such as syngas, including catalytically partially oxidizing the hydrocarbon feed stream over a catalyst bed. The catalyst bed has a downstream section which is less resistant to flow than the upstream section.

Abstract: The present invention features a system and method for circulating catalyst between a reactor system and a regenerator system. A circulating catalyst system includes a reactor system, a regenerator system, and a distribution unit. The reactor system and regenerator system are adapted to exchange catalyst. The regeneration system preferably includes a regeneration zone adapted for the contact of catalyst with a regeneration gas. The system and method are adapted so that more than one regeneration gas may contact catalyst. The distribution unit is adapted to control the percentage of catalyst contacting each regeneration gas. Thus, the distribution unit is adapted to select the percentages so as to maintain the reactor system and regeneration system under a heat balance regime. Heat is preferably transferred from the regenerator system to the reactor system by an exchange of catalyst.

Abstract: A method of designing and applying filters for geophysical time series data comprising obtaining a plurality of spatially related geophysical time series and transforming the time series using a wavelet transformation. The wavelet transformation coefficients may be organized into a plurality of subband traces. The method includes modifying one or more transform coefficients within a plurality of the subband traces or within all but one of the subbands of traces and then inverting the subband traces using an inverse transform to produce a filtered version of the transformed portion of the geophysical time series. The method allows for design and analysis of non-stationary filters and filter parameters in untransformed data space. Non-stationary signals may be filtered in all or in windowed portions of the geophysical time series data.

Abstract: A molybdenum-loaded crystalline aluminosilicate molecular sieve that exhibits the MFI crystal structure and has a silica-to-alumina ratio of about 50:1 is useful for aromatizing a hydrocarbon feed stream. The crystalline aluminosilicate preferably has an external surface acidity selectively passivated by means of an amorphous silica layer. A process for the aromatization of methane comprises a one- or multi-step process that contacts a feed stream comprising at least methane with a catalyst composition comprising the preferred molecular sieve, at hydrocarbon conversion conditions that include a temperature of 600-800° C., a pressure of less than 5 atmospheres absolute and a Weight Hourly Space Velocity (WHSV) of 0.1-10 h−1, with the external surface acidity of the crystalline aluminosilicate preferably selectively passivated by an amorphous silica layer. C6-plus aromatic hydrocarbons are preferably recovered from the process by means of an intermediate separation step.

Abstract: The present system may be used to hydroprocess heavy crude oil at the wellhead, effectively lowering the viscosity and removing contaminants such as sulfur, nitrogen and metal contents. The hydrogen source for hydroprocessing is the separated hydrogen product from the methane produced from a syngas plant.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the present invention generate a synthesis gas with a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of approximately 2:1 required for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Additional hydrogen produced in the steam reforming of methane beyond the requirements for the Fischer-Tropsch reaction is separated from the product gases of the reformer by the use of a hydrogen permeable membrane. Air is passed over the outside of the tube. As the hydrogen contacts the air, it is combusted with oxygen in the air to form water and release the heat necessary to drive the steam reforming reaction.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons. The process involves contacting a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream comprising hydrocarbons. In accordance with this invention, the catalyst used in the process includes at least a Fischer-Tropsch metal and a promoter selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tin, gallium, and zinc. The Fischer-Tropsch metal preferably includes cobalt. The catalyst may also include a support material selected from the group including silica, titania, titania/alumina, zirconia, alumina, silica-alumina, aluminum fluoride, and fluorided aluminas.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for determining a parameter of interest of a region of interest of the earth using tensor data. At least one component of potential fields data is measured at a plurality of locations over a region of interest including a subterranean formation of interest. The potential fields data are selected from magnetic data and gravity data. An initial geophysical model is determined for the region including the subterranean formation of interest. For the model, geophysical tensor data is updated using a forward model at a plurality of locations using an interior method for constrained optimization. A difference between the estimated model value and the measured value of the potential field measurements are determined at the plurality of locations. Based on the this difference the geophysical model is updated. The model is iteratively updated and compared to the measured data until the differences reach an acceptable level and the parameter of interest has been determined.

Abstract: A subsea passive flash gas compression system that includes a first separator that removes high pressure flash gas from a hydrocarbon product, a second separator that removes low pressure flash gas from the hydrocarbon product after the high pressure flash gas has been removed, and an ejector. The ejector includes a high pressure input that is coupled to a high pressure flash gas output of the first separator. The ejector also includes a low pressure input that is coupled to a low pressure flash gas output of the second separator. An output of the ejector is coupled to an outlet pipeline that extends from proximate the sea bottom to the sea surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing a sulfur containing catalyst poison from a feedstock. Benefits from removing catalyst poisoning sulfur compounds in a feedstock include upgrading the quality of the various petroleum fractions and prolonging the life of the catalyst. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes adding a sacrificial metal to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The role of the sacrificial metal is adsorption of the sulfur-containing species that may deactivate or poison the catalyst.

Abstract: A family of supported hexagonal phase mixed metal oxide catalysts are disclosed that have the general formula M2.5LnRh6O13 (expressed as atomic ratios), wherein M refers to Group II elements such as Mg, Ca, Ba, Sr and Be or a Group VIII transition metal that can exist in a +2 oxidation state, such as Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Pd, Cd and Ta. Ln refers to the rare earth lanthanide group of elements, such as La, Yb, Sm and Ce. This family of catalysts demonstrate unexpected activity for efficiently catalyzing the net partial oxidation of methane in a short contact time reactor, with high selectivities for H2 product.

Abstract: A catalyst useful for the production of olefins from alkanes via oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) is disclosed. The catalyst includes an oxide selected from the group containing alumina, zirconia, titania, yttria, silica, niobia, and vanadia. The catalyst does not contain any unoxidized metals; it is activated by higher preheat temperatures. As a result, similar conversions are achieved at a considerably lower cost.

Abstract: The present invention includes a nontwisted composite tether comprising one or more composite rods encased in a jacket and a method for manufacturing same. A portion of the rods may be bundled into one or more strands, provided however that the rods comprising the strands are not twisted into twisted strands in the assembled nontwisted tether. Such untwisted strands, if any, additionally are not twisted relative to each other. Temporary and/or permanent buoyancy may be to the tether. The present invention includes methods for preparing, transporting, and installing a composite tether on a floating platform. The tether, preferably assembled at a waterfront, is launched into the water and towed to an offshore installation site, where the tether is upended and connected via a bottom end connector on the tether to an anchor foundation in the seabed and connected a top end connector on the tether to the floating platform.

Abstract: A catalyst and process for producing hydrocarbons using the catalyst is provided. The process involves contacting a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with the catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream comprising hydrocarbons. In accordance with this invention the catalyst used in the process includes at least one catalytic metal for Fischer-Tropsch reactions, preferably cobalt. The catalyst further includes a structural component, preferably a support, that includes a metal selected from the group consisting of oxides of Group 2 metals, Group 3 metals, Group 6 metals, Group 8 metals, Group 12 metals, Group 15 metals, and combinations thereof, preferably as the oxide.

Abstract: A gas-agitated multiphase reactor system that is effective for enabling maximum reactor productivity or minimizing reactor volume comprising at least two stages with or without recycle, wherein inlet gas superficial velocity is at least 20 cm/sec at Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, yielding a total syngas conversion of greater than about 90%, while syngas conversion in each reactor is less than 60%. More specifically, the total reactor volume is held to a minimum such that minimum reactor volume is less than 0.02 cubic meters total reactor volume/(kg C5+/hr production).

Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising a catalytically active first metal selected from the group consisting of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium, and mixtures thereof, at least one second metal selected from the group consisting of silver, iron, zinc, copper, platinum, zirconium and combinations thereof; and a matrix structure comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates and polymethacrylates. The first and second metals are incorporated into the polymer.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide. The process involves contacting a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream, preferably comprising hydrocarbons. The catalyst used in the process is in the form of a sponge. The process is preferably adapted to produce hydrocarbons suitable for the production of diesel fuel. The catalyst used in the process includes at least one catalytic metal for Fischer-Tropsch reactions, preferably cobalt. Preferably the catalyst further includes at least one promoter suitable for the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, such as at least one element selected from among Groups 2-15 of the Periodic Table, preferably at lease one of chromium, iron, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium, and combinations thereof.